BOOKS : The Limbreth Gate
By Margret Whindolm, AKA Robin Hobb. I am tempted to ask 'Robin' how she developed from the writer of these books to her recent stuff. While I can see the connection, I would love to know how she developed her skills in the interim.
Anyway, this si the third book in a quadrilogy that so far has been OK, certainly not as inspired as the recent stuff. Thsi particular book makes the mistake of starting with a circular premise; the aim of the book is to get back to where we started. This can be the death of a story, as the reader thinks/feels that 'if I'm just reading about how we get back to where we are right now, why botyher reading it?' Fortunately there are a few other things taht draw one in (and I did read it very quickly, but I think that had more to do with having nothing much else to do)
VAnden is his usual charismatic self, rushing off to the rescue, taking on the role of pragmatic while Ki is 'reckless' and lead astray. The scenes with Ki therefore feel long in the tooth, as Margret tries to explain how she feels and why she does the things she does. I don't know, all a bit drawn out for me.
The main theme of the book is the spectrum which includes pragmatism, recklessness, logic and emotion. This is a big theme in my life at the moment as I am still much too unbalanced (toward the logical end, if you couldn't guess!) but the book didn't really capture me as it should, and I don't think Margret really made it clear how she feels (or made it clear that she was just posing questions).
Anyway, it wasn't really bad, the above criticism I think comes from me wanting Robin Hobb when I read Margret Whindolm, but it's interesting to see where the seeds of her ideas come from (forging of the dragons in Fool's Errand is very reminiscent of the creation of new works that the Limbreth force people like Ki to undertake).
Anyway, this si the third book in a quadrilogy that so far has been OK, certainly not as inspired as the recent stuff. Thsi particular book makes the mistake of starting with a circular premise; the aim of the book is to get back to where we started. This can be the death of a story, as the reader thinks/feels that 'if I'm just reading about how we get back to where we are right now, why botyher reading it?' Fortunately there are a few other things taht draw one in (and I did read it very quickly, but I think that had more to do with having nothing much else to do)
VAnden is his usual charismatic self, rushing off to the rescue, taking on the role of pragmatic while Ki is 'reckless' and lead astray. The scenes with Ki therefore feel long in the tooth, as Margret tries to explain how she feels and why she does the things she does. I don't know, all a bit drawn out for me.
The main theme of the book is the spectrum which includes pragmatism, recklessness, logic and emotion. This is a big theme in my life at the moment as I am still much too unbalanced (toward the logical end, if you couldn't guess!) but the book didn't really capture me as it should, and I don't think Margret really made it clear how she feels (or made it clear that she was just posing questions).
Anyway, it wasn't really bad, the above criticism I think comes from me wanting Robin Hobb when I read Margret Whindolm, but it's interesting to see where the seeds of her ideas come from (forging of the dragons in Fool's Errand is very reminiscent of the creation of new works that the Limbreth force people like Ki to undertake).
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